Abelaturus cornophorus Cook, 1983

Pesic, Vladimir, Smit, Harry & Datry, Thibault, 2010, Water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from the hyporheic waters of the Selwyn River (New Zealand), with descriptions of nine new species, Zootaxa 2355, pp. 1-34 : 18

Abelaturus cornophorus Cook, 1983

( Fig. 2I , 13A–C )

Material examined. New Zealand, South Island: Selwyn River near Coalgate, 08.iv.2004, 0/3/0 (0/1/0 mounted); ibid., 08.iv.2004, 0/1/0; Selwyn River near Chamberlain's Ford, 25.vii.2005, 2/1/0 (1/0/0 mounted).

Remarks. The specimens from the Selwyn River agree well with A. cornophorus Cook, 1983 , in having a relatively deeper capitular bay and pointed projections on the margin of the ventral shield (except for one female which bears a well developed projection on one side of the body, see Fig. 13C ). Differences are found in the rectangular hood at the anterior end of the ventral shield ( Fig. 13B ) and the first coxae being more truncate at the tips. The variability of further populations needs to be examined to clarify the taxonomy.

Distribution. New Zealand; previously reported from North and South Islands ( Cook 1983).

Figures

FIGURE 2 A – L. Photographs of dorsal shield. A— Colobaturus selwynus Pesic & Smit n. sp., female; B— Taintaturus selwynus Pesic & Smit n. sp., male; C— T. rostratus Pesic & Smit n. sp., female; D— Canterburaturus minutus Pesic & Smit n. sp., male; E— C. novaeseelandicus Pesic & Smit n. sp., female; F— C. cooki Pesic & Smit n. sp., female; G— Abelaturus schwoerbeli Pesic & Smit n. sp., male; H— A. schwoerbeli Pesic & Smit n. sp., female; I— Abelaturus cornophorus Cook, 1983, female; J— Piotaturus bovalus Cook, 1983, male; K— Paratryssaturus cantermus Cook, 1983, female; L— Zelandalbia longipalpis Pesic & Smit n. sp., female.

FIGURE 13 A – C. Abelaturus c ornophorus Cook, 1983 (A = male, B – C = female): A, C = ventral shield; B = anterodorsal portion of ventral shield. Scale bars = 100 µm.